P.E.I. hosting Atlantic table tennis championships

P.E.I. Table Tennis will host over 70 athletes, coaches, managers and parents for the 2014 Atlantic championships Saturday and Sunday in Charlottetown.

“(I’m) very pleased to welcome them all, especially New Brunswick athletes who will be attending the championship after missing for many years,” said Najam Chishti, president of the P.E.I. Table Tennis Association and referee for the tournament.

Play start both days at 9 a.m. at Stonepark Intermediate School.

There are 19 events at the championship and athletes will be fighting hard to win the titles.

Last year’s men’s champion Mark Gregory will not be defending his title, but Todd Gregory will try for his eighth Alantic title against tough competition.

The P.E.I. 2015 Canada Winter Games training squad, mainly comprised of young players, have been practising three times a week leading up to the championshps, which for some is their first major competition.

Todd Gregory, Alex Younker and Wade Gregory will represent P.E.I. as the men’s A team, while Rick Gallant, Robert Gao, Yefang Jiang will be part of the men’s B team.

Sami Yacoub, Yahya Sefau, Hassan Itani and Mohammad Itani will be the under-15 boys’ team, although Itani dislocated his shoulder last week and is doubtful for the weekend.